Trump Sworn In As President and More In Politics Today

It’s difficult to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in this country and to break through the clutter, so we’re here to make it easier. Here’s what we at Countable are reading today:

1. "Promises, pomp and protests as Trump sworn in"

"Pledging to empower America's "forgotten men and women," Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, taking command of a deeply divided nation and ushering in an unpredictable era in Washington. His victory gives Republicans control of the White House for the first time in eight years."

"Looking out over the crowd sprawled across the National Mall, Trump painted a bleak picture of the nation he now leads, lamenting "American carnage," shuttered factories and depleted U.S. leadership. President Barack Obama, the man he replaced, sat behind him stoically."

Read more at the Associated Press.

2. "Police injured in protests, nearly 100 arrested at Trump inauguration"

"A pair of police officers were injured and 95 protesters arrested after they smashed windows, damaged cars and threw rocks at police near Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony on Friday in Washington, D.C."

"Two DC police officers and one other person were taken to the hospital for undetermined injuries after run-ins with protesters, DC Fire Spokesman Vito Maggiolo told CNN. The injuries are non-life threatening."

Read more at CNN.

3. "Senate confirms first Trump Cabinet picks, Mattis and Kelly"

"The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to confirm James "Mad Dog" Mattis to be the nation's new secretary of Defense and John Kelly to be secretary of Homeland Security, giving President Trump his first victories in Congress just hours after his inauguration."

"Senators voted 98-1 to approve Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general whom Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said has demonstrated "competence, courage and character." Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was the lone "no" vote. Senators voted 88-11 to confirm Kelly, who is also a retired Marine Corps general."

Read more at USA Today.

4. "Senate breaks confirmations logjam — for now"

"Newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump quickly got two members of his national security team confirmed Friday, but another key security official will have to wait until next week due to objections from Democrats."

"After an hour of back-and-forth negotiations on the Senate floor Friday evening, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the Senate would hold six hours of debate on Rep. Mike Pompeo's (R-Kan.) nomination on Monday, and then a confirmation vote after that."

Read more at Politico.

5. "Report: ‘Net Neutrality’ Foe Ajit Pai Is New FCC Head"

"President Donald Trump has reportedly picked a fierce critic of the Obama-era "net neutrality" rules to be chief regulator of the nation's airwaves and internet connections."

"Citing unidentified people, Bloomberg and Politico both reported Friday that the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission will be Ajit Pai, an old hand at the agency. Pai's chief of staff, Matthew Berry, declined to comment. Neither Trump administration spokesman Bryan Lanza nor FCC spokesmen immediately replied to requests for comment."

Read more at ABC News.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: SSgt Mark Fayloga / Public Domain)